By Hunter Walker 2/23/12 7:37pm

Cash Money

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (Photo: Hunter Walker)

Kirsten Gillibrand Discusses Stopping Super PACs

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand discussed super PAC’s with The Politicker on Sunday at the annual New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus association weekend. Ms. Gillibrand said she’s trying to fix the controversial political action committees that allow corporations and individuals to make unlimited, undisclosed political donations, but she doesn’t think super PACs will be stopped any time soon because of Republican House members.

“I think we should ultimately strive for publicly funded elections and, I think, if you can take the money out of politics, you can begin to restore people’s confidence in the system,” Ms. Gillibrand said. “The problem with the super PACs, in general, is that there’s no transparency, there’s no accountability, you don’t know who spent the money or what their agenda is.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 2/21/12 9:11am

Roll Call

Karim Camara (Photo: Facebook)

Karim Camara Discusses Cuomo’s Absence From The Caucus Weekend Gala

Governor Andrew Cuomo was conspicuously absent through much of the annual New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus association weekend in Albany. Though he held a birthday reception honoring Assemblyman Herman “Denny” Farrell, the governor missed the gala caucus weekend finale dinner due to what a representative from his office described as a “family event.” Assemblyman Karim Camara, the chairman of the caucus told The Politicker he understood the governor’s absence at the dinner.

“I think that we are in an all-consuming business and every one of us, at some point, has missed significant events because of family obligations,” Mr. Camara said. Read More

By Hunter Walker 2/20/12 11:51am

Fighting Words

Chuck Schumer

Chuck Schumer Vows To Defeat ‘These Hard Right, Nasty People’

Senator Chuck Schumer predicted Democrats at all levels of government will emerge victorious against Republicans in this year’s elections during his speech last night at the gala scholarship dinner that closed out the annual New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus association weekend in Albany.

“The tide is beginning to turn, these hard right, nasty people who only care about the people at the very top, well, we peeled back the curtain and the American people are seeing who they really are,” Mr. Schumer said.  Read More

By Hunter Walker 2/20/12 8:31am

Old School

Senator Chuck Schumer (Photo: Facebook)

Chuck Schumer Needs To Brush Up On His Hip Hop History

Senator Chuck Schumer mixed up the names of hip-hop icons L.L. Cool J and D.J. Kool Herc, in his speech at the gala scholarship dinner that was the finale of the annual New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus association weekend. Mr. Schumer’s musical mixup came when he told the audience about his efforts to preserve the Bronx apartment building where Kool Herc is said to have first mixed records and rapped over the beat.

“I have kept my promises to you that, while I have clout in Washington, I will do everything I can for our dear State of New York,” Mr. Schumer said. “So, when greedy landlords in the Bronx wanted to close the home on Sedgwick Avenue where L.L. Kool Herc invented hip hop and lots of hardworking people lived, we stopped them.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 2/20/12 7:36am

City Hall

John Liu

John Liu Doesn’t Want To Announce a Run For Mayor (On The Politicker)

On Saturday night, New York City Comptroller John Liu held a reception honoring labor leaders at the annual New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus association weekend and I asked him whether he’s ready to announce a run for mayor.

“Everybody has their way of making announcements,” Mr. Liu said. “You’re a great guy, I’m not necessarily sure that you’re the perfect venue for making the announcement O.K.? No offense.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 2/19/12 11:43pm

Caucus Weekend

John Liu in 2010. (Photo: Getty)

Albany Lawmakers Defend John Liu

New York City Comptroller and possible 2013 mayoral candidate John Liu held a reception honoring labor leaders last night at the annual New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus association weekend where State Senators John Sampson and Eric Adams defended him against the fundraising scandal he’s been battling since November. Mr. Liu also addressed the toll the allegations have taken on him and his family.

“My son, Joey, is in in sixth grade right now, and he is reading the papers, and I have to explain to him what they’re talking about and what’s really happening,” Mr. Liu said. “So it is one of the things that we go through as real people.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 2/19/12 11:22pm

The Reverend

Reverend Jesse Jackson (Photo: Getty)

Jesse Jackson Takes On Super PACs

Reverend Jesse Jackson served as guest minister for the church service of the annual New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus association weekend at Wilborn Temple in Albany today and his sermon included a call to eliminate super PACs that allow corporations and individuals to contribute unlimited amounts to political campaigns. In a conversation with reporters after the service, Mr. Jackson reiterated his belief super PACs are leading to the “corrupting of our political process.”

“Now we see our politics corrupted by the super PAC process where a few very wealthy people can use their monies to tear down and tear up people, and discourage leadership from emerging in a democratic way. Not one super PAC ad has been on eliminating poverty, or building affordable housing, or making healthcare affordable, or reducing student loan debt, which is greater than credit card debt,” Mr. Jackson said. “The one person one vote is dead until these super PACs become illegal again.” Read More